Lay construction for looms



Feb. 7, 1950 M. F. KIELEY ET AL. 2,496,628

LAY CONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Filed June 2, 1948 Patented Feb. 7, 1950 LAYCONSTRUCTION FOR LOOMS Michael F. Kieley, Derby, and Arthur R. Abbott,

Shelton, Conn., assignors to Sidney Blumenthal & 00., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application June 2, 1948, Serial No.30,684

.10 Claims. (01. 189-188) This invention relates to lay construction forlooms and has for an object to provide such a construction which is muchlighter than present forms together with an increase in the desiredrigidity in all directions, vertical, horizontal, and in torqueresistance.

Another object is to provide such a construction which results inreduced inertia and vibration with consequential reduction in powerrequired for operation and in wear upon the parts.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which the increasein rigidity, particularly in the vertical direction, at the ends of thelay, beneficially cooperates with the proper operation of automaticquill magazines for supplying the shuttles; and in which increasedrigidity in the sense of resistance to torque stresses improves theoperation particularly as regards the contact of the bumpers carried bythe lay with the latch fingers of the quill magazines.

Another object is to provide such a construction which increases theaccuracy in the aiming and flight of shuttles across the loom and intheir reception by the shuttle boxes.

Another object is to provide such a constructio in which the usualraceway is not required, which not only simplifies the structure andreduces weight but also afiords opportunity for a shuttle which may becaught in the shed to fall through to the floor under the loom and thusavoid injury to the shuttle on the forward stroke of the lay.

Another object is to provide such a construction in which simplicity ofdesign is emphasized and' standard forms of prefabricated structuralelements are used, with consequent reduction in the cost of manufacture.

Another object is to provide such a construction which may be secured tothe lay swords in standard and approved types of looms without requiringchanges in the other parts of the loom or in its normal mode ofoperation.

A further object is to provide certain improvements in the form,construction, material and arrangement of the several parts whereby theabove named and other objects inherent in the construction may beefiectively attained.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 represents an isometricperspective view of the lay construction associated with upper parts ofthe lay swords;

Fig. 2 represents an end view of the parts shown in Fig. 1, looking fromleft to right;

Fig. 3 represents a vertical section takenin 2 the plane of the lineIII-III of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section taken in the plane of the lineIV-IV of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In usual practice the loom lay is constructed of Wood and iron and isprovided with a smooth, level top surface to serve as a raceway for theshuttle in its flight. The construction is heavy and somewhatcumbersome, particularly with respect to the upper parts where, with aview to the attainment of rigidity, at least one heavy ironconstructional element is embodied. This involves the necessity ofconsiderable power for the oscillation of the lay in its beat-upfunction and generates a very substantial inertia in motion with theinevitable concommitants of increased injury in case of a loom smash"such as may occur in case of faulty shuttle operation, increased wearupon the parts, and increased liability to breakage. The presentinvention overcomes these previously existing disadvantages, attains theobjects hereinabove recited,

and, in a general way, serves to improve loom operation and economizesin the cost thereof. Referring to the drawing, the lay proper is denotedby l and is composed of metallic tubing preferably of one of the lightermetals such as magnesium, aluminum, or one of the alloys thereof,although steel may satisfactorily be employed with a reduction in theextent to which the objective of lightness is attained. In the drawingthis tubular lay is shown as circular in cross section but it may be ofother cross sectional form, such, for instance, as square, oblong, orhexagonal.

The said lay proper is fixed to the swords 2 and 3 by a pair of metalchannel section brackets 4 and 5, the edges of which are welded to thetop and bottom of the tubular lay I as indicated at 6, I, in Fig. 4; itbeing understood that while these weld lines 6, I, are illustrated inthe drawing only in connection with the fastening of bracket =4 to layI, the bracket 5 is correspondingly welded to the lay.

The said brackets 4 and 5 are each adjustably fastened to the lay swords2 and 3 by one or more bolts 8 which traverse open ended slots in thebrackets and also pass through the swords; thereby permitting a certainamount of horizontal adjustment of the lay in order accurately toposition it with respect to other parts of the loom.

Supports for mounting the shuttle boxes are provided in the form ofmetal pads which, like cured directly to the upper pads 9, ll, l3 andl5, 1

while the lower pads l0, l2 andl l serve as re-. inforcement at thesepoints forerrhancingthe rigidity of the structure. There is no :compleinthe case of flange l9. This provides a very firm assembly for the upperpart of the reed while permitting suitable vertical adjustment to accordwith the particular weaving operation under way. Portions of the reedare shown in Fig. 1 and indicated 34, 34.

In .the foregoing description-it has been men- "itionedithat there isadfiniteadvantage in have mentary lower pad for the-upperzpad1:5,:but2the latter is formed with an angular aweb IB' -thatr suppliesthe necessary rigidity; and said pad also has an upwardlyextendingabutment I! at its outer extremity which serves to preventoutward movement of the long upper shuttlebox at this end of the lay,while permitting the usual i vertical adjustment -thereof sforaccommodating the loom to the weaving .of'fabrics-..ofvarying :pileheights. There is no .occasionlforsuch a {provision at the opposite rendrof the lay 7 because the upper shuttle box at that-point is theshorter\.one and .is held in .p.osit-ion .by its. fixture to =.the loweri box.=Any: suitable -fasteningelements may :be employedior securing .theboxes to .the pads, and wehave :foundboltsr or cap-screws to be satis-:factory. 'Il1e:boxes and.the fastening elements arenot-shown.intheidrawing because they form :no part of .the,p11esentinvention, which isdirected to the layconstruction.

The lower reed :slot is marked l8.and;itcon- :sists of ametallic-channel bar which; isprovided 'with a laterally extending,fiange .I9 along its :upperrear edge. Theends of :thesaid-reed :slot:are .fastened; preferably by welding, to .the brackets 4 andsfi and.-its :intermediate 2portion iis secured i at intervals .to the .tubularelay -l .byra

rseries=of channel sectionpads 2i}, 2|, 22, which are similar tocbrackets-kandfi and:are.-welded-..to thelay proper ii at its topandbottomlasindimated-at 23, :24, in Fig.3, -.while-the.said reedslot is.likewise welded .to the top-.of .the :said pads -20, v2!, .22. Thisunion of the parts sjustidescribed yprovi'des :ior .a :high 1 degree of;rigidity :and .re- .sistance to strains, which is increasedxto ,a.still higher degree by the flange 49, that .-not only istrengthens thelower :reed slot, but -.also braces ithegparts by reason of :the fact.that its .ends firnily abut the inside-edges .offthelay swords 2,3,:asclearly: shown. in Fig. .1.

The upper reed :slot .is .denoted by 2.5 and -.it is :a duplicate -,ofthe .lower slot .-l8 though -.it .is, of course, reversed in position sothat its channel ropens'downwarcliy 'while .thatof (8 opens :up--wardly. -1Tli628Il-C1S-Offiih9 said .upper slot 25.are secured,by-welcling, to theunder side -.of ca jpair of metallic rchannelsectiombrackets 26,21, avhich are provided \with bolts -28, .28, whichex- .tend rearwardly from the bracketsiand traverse :slotsr29, -29,fashioned inithe upperrextremities of the .layswords. .A reedecover-flfl, which-consists of a metallic tube of any suitablecrosssec- I-..tional-shape,.cir.cular being shown -andis prefereably composed .ofone .of the lighter metals 'as ,mentioned in connection with the lay 3|,rhasits -encls mounteddn brackets .26, .2-1, .theedges -.of which arewelded t the top.and:bottom.of reed scoverfill asindicatedatfi l, 32..It .will.also;be..un- Qderstood that the fiange on the upper lree'dslot25, which is shown in Fig. '3 and marked '33,.lies .ibetween the swords3, ,with-its. ends firmlyiabut- .of light metal.

ing the lay proper I and reed cover 30 composed This is of primeimportance because they are the largest elements of the upper layconstruction and a substantial reduction in .their weight leads=to amajor reduction in the -.total Weight .of the moving parts, with corre-,-.-sponding.decreasein power required for operation and in inertiawhich must be overcome at the -end .of each oscillation. However, itshould be 'adcled'that itis desirable that the other parts of theconstruction (except the lay swords which are usually composed of wood)be likewise made .from light metal wheneversuch material suit- .able tothe purpose is available.

It will .be evident that the constructionherein :shown and .describediscalculated to attain the -.objects.recited at the outsetof thisspecification and it will also be clear that the structure is-easilyfabricated and is also readily susceptible .torepair orreplacement of any worn or injured apart or parts. In this generalconnection it should be noted that the rigidity imparted tothe.endportionsofthe lay I permits the lay swords .tobepositionedrelatively close together and all .the shuttle .box supports or pads tobe located outside theswords. This enables a decrease in .theQlength ofthe wreedcover 30 with associated .re'ductioninits weightand increase inits stiff- ..ness.

We desire ,it to be understood that various changes may be resorted toin the form, construction, arrangement and material of the several partswithout -departingfrom the spirit or .scope of the invention; and hencewe do not intend vto be limited to detailsherein shown or describedexcept as they may be .includedin the .claims .or berequiredbydisclosures of the prior art.

"What we claim is:

"l. A lay construction .ior looms including a tubular metallic lay, atubular metallic reed cover, and'lower and \upper members serving asreed slots securedrespectively to vthelay andthe reed cover, each ofsaid members being composed of .a metallic channel bar.

2..A flay construction for looms including a tubular metallic lay,.atubularmetallic reed cover, lower and upper members serving as reedslots secured respectively to the lay and thereed cover, each ofsai'dmemhersbeing composedof a metallic channel bar,.a pair .o'flayswords,and means for securing thelay and the reedcover to the swords.

3. A .lay construction for looms including a tubular-metallic lay,atubular metallic reed cover, ilower'and upper members serving as reedslots secured respectively tothelay and the reed cover, each ofsaidmembers being composed ofa. metallic channel bar, apair'of layswords, and means for securing thelayand the reed cover to the swords,the said means for securing the reed cover and lay .being adjustable.

4. .A day construction for looms including a tubular metallic lay, atubular .metallic reed cover, llower and .upper -members serving as reedslots secured respectively .to the lay and reed .ting .their inner edgesas hereinabove described 516 .cover, .eachotsaid members being-composedof a metallic channel bar, a pair of lay swords, and metallic channelsection brackets for securing the lay and reed cover to the swords.

5. A lay construction for looms including a tubular metallic lay, atubular metallic reed cover, a pair of lay swords, means for securingthe lay and the reed cover to the swords, and

- lower and upper members serving as reed slots secured respectively tothe lay and reed cover, each of said members being composed of ametallic channel bar and having flanges lying between and abutting saidswords. I

6. A lay construction for looms including a pair of lay swords, atubular metallic lay secured to the swords and projecting laterallyoutwardly therefrom, and metallic supports for all the loom shuttleboxes fixed to the lay at points laterally outside the swords.

7. A lay construction for looms including a pair of lay swords, atubular metallic lay secured to the swords and projecting laterallyoutwardly therefrom, metallic supports for all the loom shuttle boxesfixed to the lay at points laterally outside the swords, and metallicreinforcing elements fixed to the lay beneath said supports.

8. A lay construction for looms including a pair of lay swords, atubular metallic lay secured to the swords and projecting laterallyoutwardly therefrom, a. tubular metallic reed cover secured to theswords above the lay with its ends sub- 1 stantially in line with theswords, and metallic supports for all the loom shuttle boxes fixed tothe lay at points laterally outside the swords.

9. A lay construction for looms including a pair of lay swords, atubular metallic lay secured to the swords and projecting laterallyoutwardly therefrom, a tubular metallic reed cover secured to the swordsabove the lay with its ends substantially in line with the swords,metallic supports for all the loom shuttle boxes fixed to the lay atpoints laterally outside the swords, and lower and upper metallicchannel bars serving as reed slots secured respectively to the lay andthe reed cover.

10. A lay construction for looms including a pair of lay swords, atubular metallic lay secured to the swords and projecting laterallyoutwardly therefrom, a tubular metallic reed cover secured ,to theswords above the lay with its ends substantially in line with theswords, metallic supports for all the loom shuttle boxes fixed to thelay at points-laterally outside the swords, metallic reinforcingelements fixed to the lay beneath said supports, and lower and uppermetallic channel bars serving as reed slots secured respectively to thelay and the reed cover.

MICHAEL F. KIELEY. ARTHUR R. ABBOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 254,027 Knowles Feb. 21, 1882,495,435 Simoneau Apr. 11, 1893 789,343 Wattie May 9, 1905 2,107,877Schmidt Feb. 8, 1938 2,157,173 Holland May 9, 1939 2,346,803 Weltie Apr.18, 1944 2,439,688 Gordon Apr. 13, 1948v FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 604,330 Germany Apr. 25, 1934 OTHER REFERENCES The TextileManufacturer, March 1945, pp. 109-111. (Copy in Div. 21.)

